I'm Sick-Opinions Please

[echo46]

All:
Just got back from vacationing out west and was really jonesin to drive the ZHP. Pulled her out of the garage, was not paying attention and I brushed up against my wife's Land Rover. I am abosulely digusted with myself. What an idiot..etc etc

Anyway please take a look at the attached pictures and give me opinions which route to repair. Any shot at paintless dent removal or is it too big??

http://i56.tinypic.com/2i95qpi.jpg
http://i56.tinypic.com/fb9a9c.jpg
http://i51.tinypic.com/2a675lw.jpg
http://i53.tinypic.com/f4i7mp.jpg

[Hornung418]

Hair Dryer and a can of keyboard cleaner. Heat the dent up constantly moving the dryer as to not burn the paint. Give it a good 10 minutes of heat, then while it's still hot, shake the C02 can and spray it UPSIDE DOWN. This will pop your dent if there is no crease. Then just clay the paint and give it a good wash.

Good luck!

[echo46]

Really, I never heard of that. So going from hot to cold will pop it? Any way I can cause more damage besides overheating the paint? Do ypou mean hold the can upside down?

[Hornung418]

Yes, if there is no crease, the metal will contract after the CO2 is sprayed on the hot surface. Holding the can upside down causes a reaction inside the can and makes the insides colder than normal. I'll pull up a video of the process in action.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILVWPzO_swY

This guy only needs 30 seconds of heat. But then again it looks like it's quite hot out in the video. Should pop it back out if there isn't a crease which you are very lucky to have avoided causing one!

[echo46]

excellent, thanks

[echo46]

wow, that is amazing, did you ever try it?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Good luck with the repair.

[echo46]

thanks, going to get the keyboard cleaner now

[danewilson77]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W4LjiCwQKAM

[echo46]

Bravo, Getting a large bag of Orville Redenbacher next.

[echo46]

I heated the metal for about ten minutes then did the keyboard cleaner upside down. I had partial success. the indentation came out about half way. I think I will try again on a hot day. I will let the sun heat the metal then I will further heat it with the blow dryer. If not successful I will take it to the body shop. Do you guys think that paintless can remove this?

[Hornung418]

Yeah for sure. Glad you had partial success at least. It's pretty miserable on the east coast. Try again on a sunny day, that should work.

[echo46]

Thanks, it is close but I can still see it and it bothers the hell of me.

[static667]

Never heard of this fix. Cool stuff. I hope I never need to use it.

Sent from my rooted Fascinate using Tapatalk.

[billschusteriv]

Very cool suggestions. Paintless dent removal should be able to handle this without a problem. Just watch the transition to the wheel well to make sure the paint doesn't start cracking/flaking over time.

Keep us posted.

[echo46]

So last week I took my car to Martinoautoconcepts in Glen Cove, Long Island for an assesment and quote. Their paintless dent removal guy looked it over and thought he could get it perfect. He quoted me $350 if he was able to restore it to showroom quality and less if it was not perfect. I thought that was a bit high but if he could get it perfect I was willing to pay. One of the owners or managers told me to call this week and schedule and appointment. He said that they were really busy but could probably fit me at the end of the week. I called and left a message and still have not heard back. I will call again but if I don't hear back I will have to move on. I heard very good things about this place and really want them to do the work. This is the place that is hosting Bimmerstock next week here on the Island. I guess I'm a little frustrated as I also pmed them on E46 fanatics and have heard nothing back.

[jreyes19]

i remember when everyone would use those little suction cups to pull the dent out
good luck with your repairs

[echo46]

Well, I called martinautoconcepts a number of times and am just not feeling the love so I moved on. Called Andrew at Big A detailing in Queens. I hear good things. Andrew thinks they can get it close but not perfect. I think I'm going to give it a shot and see how good it looks before going down the new quarter panel path.